Time with Tanner

Last Friday Jason came up from Layton on the way over to Camp Bartlett where he was involved in a big scouting activity for adult leaders on Saturday.  He brought Tanner up with him and dropped him off to stay with us overnight and then to go up to Nampa, Idaho on Saturday to pick up a car I had bought online.  I was looking forward to spending some time with Tanner, before he goes into the Marine Corps next week.  I love the man.  He is awesome and we had a good time talking and riding together.  Picking up the car was definitely the secondary benefit of the trip, but we are happy about that too.

Tanner has a special attraction to people, especially kids.  My dad always used to say that you can't fool dogs or kids.  Every time we get together with family, the younger kids just seem to gravitate to Tanner.  He has a special way about him which make them and all of us just love him.  This love is especially felt by Ryan and Samantha's kids.  The boys just idolize him.  When they found out he was coming up last Friday, they invited him, and us, to come over for a sort of farewell party.  Sam cooked a delicious meal and Ryan put together a little movie about Tanner and their kids.  The food was great and the movie brought a tear or two to nearly every eye there.  We had a great time together and everyone felt the love we have for each other.  It was a wonderful and memorable experience.  Tanner will definitely been in all of our prayers.

Here are Tanner and some of his fan club,  Annika, Tristan, and Micah.  He has many other fans as well.

After picking up the new car we stopped by Nina and Steve's place in Meridian.  We don't get to see them quite so much as we'd like.  They are kind of off the beaten path living up there.  I hadn't seen Camille or her kids for along time.  In fact, I hadn't seen the two youngest at all.  We had been concerned about Talon, now four years old, who was born with some  serious issues.  Just one look at him and we could see that our prayers and theirs have been answered.  He is coming along very well and making excellent progress.  Camille is a great mother to her boys and I just love her to pieces..

 

Here I am with Camille and the new one in the family, Tenlyn sp.  It was so good to see Nina and Steve and also Camille and her cute kids.  They wanted to play football in the back yard, which I did, for a little while.  It did reemphasize the facts., they are young and I am not.  It was a short visit, but it was great to see them and visit with them for a while.  They remembered Tanner, from when they lived up in Boise several years ago.  Tanner enjoyed seeing them too,  I appreciated Tanner helping me with the car.  It worked out well for all of us.  We wish Tanner all the best.  The Marines must know a good man when they see one.  We'll stay in touch as much as we are allowed.  Love our "Tan Man".